One Third of WY Docs Could Leave the State

Cheyenne, WY – A new state study says that almost one-third of Wyoming doctors are planning to relocate out of the state eventually, and many of those cite the cost of malpracticeinsurance as a factor. The Wyoming Healthcare Commission this week released a report giving detailed information about doctors and other health care professionals in the state. The report states that 32 percent of the doctors who responded to questions say they have plans to move from Wyoming. More than half of those say that malpractice insurance rates were a factor. Other reasons included income, patient load, isolation and insufficient vacation time. The report says that there are more than 23-hundred physicians licensed in the state, but says that only 961 are practicing.